Chris Anderson is Leaving Wired

Wired’s editor in chief Chris Anderson announced today that he leaving the magazine to concentrate on 3D Robotics, a company he cofounded that makes DIY Drones. Mr. Anderson has been the mag’s EIC since 2001 and wrote the 2004 book The Long Tail. No successor has been named yet.

“This is an opportunity for me to pursue an entrepreneurial dream,” Mr. Anderson said in a statement. “I’m confident that Wired’s mission to influence and chronicle the digital revolution is stronger than ever and will continue to expand and

evolve.”

The internal email sent to Conde Nast staffers is below:

Dear Colleagues,

Today Chris Anderson, editor in chief of Wired, announced that he will be leaving Condé Nast at the end of the year to become CEO of 3D Robotics, a company he cofounded several years ago. “This is an opportunity for me to pursue an entrepreneurial dream,” Chris said. “I’m confident that Wired’s mission to influence and chronicle the digital revolution is stronger than ever and will continue to expand and evolve.”

Chris joined Wired as editor in chief in 2001. During his tenure, the magazine received eight National Magazine Awards, including the prestigious top prize for General Excellence in 2005, 2007 and 2009. In 2010, Adweek honored Wired as its Magazine of the Decade.

As with every brand that challenges the current times and predicts the future, Wired will now embark on the next phase of its quest to determine “what will matter.” Please join me in thanking Chris for his extraordinary contributions to the Wired franchise. We wish him the best of luck in his new venture and look forward to naming his successor shortly.